ROBERT HALE: “We depend on the Congress for the resources we need to meet national security needs, and we appreciate your help.”

If we find ourselves taking $52 billion out of that request, as would be required if there is no changes in the Budget Control Act, then the suddenness of that decline will cause serious problems.

We have got at least 25 percent of unneeded infrastructure in the Department of Defense. If we can't get Congress to allow us to close it, we are simply going to waste taxpayers' dollars.

Please don't use the word nonessential as regards our civilians.

And if the President is going to continue to be the Commander in Chief and if he is going to continue to rightfully complain through his Secretary of Defense about the adverse effect of sequestration on our national defense capabilities…